ADM Scales up Electric Truck Fleet Across Three UK Sites

ADM has expanded its electric heavy goods vehicle fleet to five units across three UK sites. This move follows a successful pilot program conducted with Voltloader, which demonstrated that charging infrastructure can be effectively integrated into demanding, multi-shift logistics operations. The expansion marks a significant step in electrifying heavy transport for the company.

Electrifying heavy transport involves more than simply replacing diesel trucks with electric alternatives. For ADM, the transition required the careful integration of vehicle technology, charging infrastructure, route planning, and vehicle utilization. The goal was to maintain the movement of approximately 800,000 tonnes of wheat through its UK milling operation each year without causing any disruption to customer deliveries or day-to-day operations.

Infrastructure supports double-shift operations

The initiative began with a single electric HGV pilot at ADM’s Corby facility. Initially, the vehicle was supported by a mobile charging solution, allowing the companies to assess how electric HGVs could operate within the existing logistics network. After the trial, Voltloader installed an ultra-rapid charger at the site.

This charger was specifically designed to support double-shift operations while reducing vehicle downtime. It is also available for use by third-party commercial vehicle operators. The success of this pilot led ADM to invest in additional electric HGVs and extend the program to its facilities at Knottingley and Avonmouth. The resulting network of charging infrastructure now supports the five electric HGVs across ADM’s UK operations.

Emissions drop by 375 tonnes yearly

According to ADM’s emissions calculations, the program is estimated to reduce transport-related CO2 emissions by approximately 375 tonnes a year compared with the previous diesel fleet configuration. The transition was completed without disrupting customer deliveries. Drivers have also reported a more comfortable working environment due to reduced noise and vibration.

Ashley Fuller, Managing Director of ADM Milling, stated that the original objective was to establish whether an electric HGV could operate effectively within the fleet. He noted that the team quickly proved this was not only possible but a significant opportunity. The partnership with Voltloader over the past two years has combined operational experience and shared insight to introduce electric trucks into the fleet.

Model ready for wider replication

Voltloader CEO Dave Rose emphasized that the project demonstrates the importance of combining electric vehicles with the supporting infrastructure and operational expertise required to run them effectively. The two companies have created an operational model that could be replicated across ADM’s wider operations, drawing on Voltloader’s experience in electric haulage, charging network services, and site infrastructure.

The companies are now looking at applying this model beyond initial outbound operations, with potential applications in inbound agricultural transport and downstream food distribution. The experience gained at Corby, Knottingley, and Avonmouth provides ADM with an operational framework for expanding electric transport while maintaining service levels expected across the food supply chain.

As reported by GN auto tech/ev: electric vehicle, the project illustrates that the vehicle itself is only one part of the transition. Charging capacity, vehicle utilization, shift patterns, and operational continuity all need to be considered together if fleet electrification is to work at scale. This holistic approach ensures that the benefits of electric transport are realized without compromising operational reliability.